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The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during January and February on the Prairie-Shell Creek property in Charlotte County.The site is west of U.S. Hwy. 17 and east of the Peace River, approximately eight miles northeast of Punta Gorda. Approximately 100 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, controlled burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the…

The public is invited to share ideas concerning potential water resources restoration projects when the Citrus/Hernando Waterways Restoration Council and the Hernando County Task Force meet on Oct. 20.The Citrus/Hernando Waterways Restoration Council will meet at 3 p.m. in Conference Rooms A & B, 1st Floor, at the Southwest Florida Water Management District Headquarters, 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville. The Hernando County Task Force will meet in the same location at 3:…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the remaining days of October and November on the Prairie-Shell Creek property in Charlotte County.The site is west of U.S. Hwy. 17 and east of the Peace River, approximately eight miles northeast of Punta Gorda. Approximately 125 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, controlled burns are a part of routine maintenance of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the remaining days of August and September on the Prairie-Shell Creek property in Charlotte County.The site is west of U.S. Hwy. 17 and east of the Peace River, approximately eight miles northeast of Punta Gorda. Approximately 125 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, controlled burns are a part of routine maintenance of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board approved a plan that will provide electricity to the District’s Green Swamp West property.Last May, the District signed a no-cost lease agreement which allows the Pasco High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) to use a 100-acre bahia pasture on the property for a cattle project. The FFA project area is located near the River Road entrance of the property.The cattle grazing lease allows FFA…

Residents of the Brooker Creek watershed can learn about their region by visiting the new www.BrookerCreek.org Web site. The site provides information about watershed issues and encourages behavior change that will improve and protect the water resources.BrookerCreek.org was developed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and is hosted by the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center.The Web site includes general information about watersheds, as well…

 Proximity to the Charlotte Harbor estuary is reflected in the tidal nature of the river and its associated floodplain wetlands. The Peace River is highly braided in these lower reaches and the name of the property is derived from a prominent branch of the river, known historically as "Deep Creek," which parallels the eastern boundary of the site.About half of the property is pine flatwoods consisting of longleaf pines and a diverse mixture of native shrubs and herbs. A…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Plant City. Residents living in the Plant City watershed are invited to attend an open house Tuesday, Feb. 15, at 4 p.m. The meeting will take place at Sadye Gibbs Martin Community Center, located at 302 South Maryland Avenue in Plant City. District representatives will present preliminary data for flood prone areas, explain the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Sumter County. Residents living in the Little Jones Creek/Wildwood watershed are invited to attend an open house Thursday, Jan. 13, at 4 p.m. The meeting will take place at Wildwood Community Center, located at 6500 Powell Road in Wildwood. District representatives will present preliminary data for flood prone areas, explain the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will close all District-managed campgrounds and properties to include trails and day use areas throughout its 16-county region at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8, in anticipation of impacts from Hurricane MiltonFor the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at …

More than 90 tons of debris removed from area sinkholesThe Southwest Florida Water Management District has completed a three-year project to improve water quality in the District’s springs by removing debris from sinkholes and areas with high aquifer permeability.Over the three-year period, 90.77 tons of debris were removed from 18 sinkholes and other karst features in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. Some of the items removed from the sinkholes included shopping…

Ramon F. Campo, left, and Edward W. Chance, right. Two former Governing Board members who recently passed away will be remembered for their dedication to the District. Ramon F. Campo An oak tree was planted at the Tampa Service Office this February in memory of Ramon “Ray” F. Campo, who served on the Governing Board from 1991 to 1999. “Many of the philosophies and programs the District employs today sprang from the efforts and vision and…

Above: New observation tower at the preserve. Below: The view from the tower. Outdoor enthusiasts have a new preserve to visit in Levy County. The Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve is 413 acres of publicly owned land managed by Yankeetown. Preserve visitors can enjoy a boardwalk, hiking trails and an education building. There is also an area to launch kayaks located on a half-mile portage trail. Boaters should be…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday approved an agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for the restoration of the Sawgrass Lake Park Water Management Area.The 36-acre restoration site is located near the Skyway Trap and Skeet Club in southern Pinellas County. Tests conducted by the District and the FDEP indicate increased levels of lead and arsenic in the area the gun club used as a drop zone.In…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Alston Tract(Upper Hillsborough Preserve Alston Tract)":/recreation/areas/uh-alston_tract.html, which is part of the "Upper Hillsborough Preserve(Upper Hillsborough Preserve)":/recreation/areas/upper_hillsborough_preserve.html, will be temporarily closed to the public for hog hunts Jan. 11–13.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All of the permits for these hunts have been sold.The "…

District Kudos The District was recently recognized nationally for combining function with environmentally friendly building and landscaping practices at its Sarasota Service Office. The National Commercial Builders Council of the National Association of Home Builders awarded the District the Chairman’s Award for excellence in commercial construction. “This is a very prestigious national award,” said project manager Nick Spirakis. General Services Director Lloyd…

The Florida Yard Fandango is returning to the Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) this spring. The event is being held March 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. This is the second year the District has been involved with the Fandango. The goal of this event is to promote Florida-friendly landscaping and lawn maintenance because it is beautiful and saves water, time and energy. Participants will have the opportunity to choose from 15 workshops, including core classes on the…

A homeless osprey may soon be living “the high life,” thanks to an observant District employee and Tampa Electric. William Copeland, a senior environmental scientist in the Tampa Regulation Department, noticed an osprey trying to build a nest on top of an active power pole that serves the facilities building at the District’s Tampa Service Office. “I originally asked Brant Henningsen with the District’s Surface Water Improvement and Management Program where I could…

The Southwest Florida Management District recently signed two agreements with Sarasota County to move forward on projects that will help reduce flooding associated with heavy rains in the Hudson Bayou and Matheny Creek watersheds.Hudson Bayou WatershedThe Hudson Bayou Watershed spans approximately 3.8 miles in Sarasota County and includes the South Pelican Drive area, which experiences chronic flooding.The project will construct a pond downstream of the area to provide…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during November and December on the Jack Creek property in Highlands County.The Jack Creek property is located in the Leisure Lakes area, approximately one mile west of US 27, three miles south of SR 66 and six miles northwest of Lake Placid. Approximately 100 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance…